Received a targeted Citi AA Amex offer, need some advice.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, AS Gold, SPG Gold, Emerald Club
Posts: 237
Received a targeted Citi AA Amex offer, need some advice.
I received a targeted offer from Citi today, regarding their AA Amex product. I'm assuming that my existing AA card with them triggered this offer. Here's the benefit summary that they included:
Plus, the $95 annual fee is waived as long as your current platinum card account remains open and is linked to your new card.
--Earn 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $750 in purchases within the first 4 months of being a cardmember.
--Get the first eligible bag checked free for you and up to 4 travel companions.
--Enjoy Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges and use the extra time to prepare for your flight.
--Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount each year of cardmembership in which you spend $30,000 or more in purchases and renew your cardmembership.
--Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantage miles each calendar year.
--Earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you spend on eligible American Airlines purchases.
--Plus, earn 1.2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you spend on other purchases for the first 18 months of cardmembership.7 After this promotional period, you can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 you spend on other purchases.
--Receive a 25% savings on American Airlines in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card.
Most of these benefits are the same, but the lack of an annual fee, and the nearly two years of 20% mile earn are tempting....especially since I regularly use the AA Dining program to full effect. The up front bonus isn't as big as some cards, but the long term bonus earn potential is hard to resist.
Before I decide though, I'd to hear from you all, as you have much more collective wisdom in this area than I do. So, what do you think? Deal, or No Deal?
Plus, the $95 annual fee is waived as long as your current platinum card account remains open and is linked to your new card.
--Earn 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $750 in purchases within the first 4 months of being a cardmember.
--Get the first eligible bag checked free for you and up to 4 travel companions.
--Enjoy Priority Boarding with Group 1 privileges and use the extra time to prepare for your flight.
--Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount each year of cardmembership in which you spend $30,000 or more in purchases and renew your cardmembership.
--Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage miles back up to 10,000 AAdvantage miles each calendar year.
--Earn 2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you spend on eligible American Airlines purchases.
--Plus, earn 1.2 AAdvantage miles for every $1 you spend on other purchases for the first 18 months of cardmembership.7 After this promotional period, you can earn 1 AAdvantage mile for every $1 you spend on other purchases.
--Receive a 25% savings on American Airlines in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card.
Most of these benefits are the same, but the lack of an annual fee, and the nearly two years of 20% mile earn are tempting....especially since I regularly use the AA Dining program to full effect. The up front bonus isn't as big as some cards, but the long term bonus earn potential is hard to resist.
Before I decide though, I'd to hear from you all, as you have much more collective wisdom in this area than I do. So, what do you think? Deal, or No Deal?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: AL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL Sil, UA Sil, Hyatt Global, MR Amb, Hilton Diamond, National Exec, Hertz Pres
Posts: 477
Received a targeted CC offer, need some advice
I got this offer a while back and jumped on it. 1.2 miles on everything was too hard to pass up.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 304
Example - let's say you plan on spending $5k or 10k total on this card.
$5k * 1.2 = 6k miles + 25k bonus = 31k total
$10k *1.2 = 12k miles + 25k bonus = 37k total
Both of these are still under the current best offer of 40k sign up bonus.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: AL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL Sil, UA Sil, Hyatt Global, MR Amb, Hilton Diamond, National Exec, Hertz Pres
Posts: 477
Received a targeted CC offer, need some advice
The offer I got was for an Amex shortly after I got the MasterCard. I'm not eligible for another AA card because of the 18 month waiting period. Why wouldn't someone have taken this given no other choices??
#6
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 994
Citi Business MasterCard. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here
Citi Platinum Select Visa. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months.$95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Business Mastercard. 35,000 miles after $1.5k spend in 3 months.
Citi Personal Platinum Select. 35,000 miles after $1.5k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Business Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived 1st year. Landing page available here.
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived 1st year.
Citi Gold AA Visa Signature Card. 25,000 miles after $750 spend in 4 months. $50 annual fee,waived 1st year. Landing page available here
Citi Platinum Select Visa. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months.$95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 40,000 miles after $3k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Business Mastercard. 35,000 miles after $1.5k spend in 3 months.
Citi Personal Platinum Select. 35,000 miles after $1.5k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived first year. Landing page available here.
Citi Business Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived 1st year. Landing page available here.
Citi Platinum Select Mastercard. 30,000 miles after $1k spend in 3 months. $95 annual fee, waived 1st year.
Citi Gold AA Visa Signature Card. 25,000 miles after $750 spend in 4 months. $50 annual fee,waived 1st year. Landing page available here
#7
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 104
get the usual 40k offers, hit min spend, and then let it sit in your drawer for a brief period (~3-4 months)...then call the retention dept to cancel. it is very common to get hit with a spend x and get x bonus miles each month retention bonus for 18 months (e.g. for me, its spend $750, get 750 extra...so 2x).
#8
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: AL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL Sil, UA Sil, Hyatt Global, MR Amb, Hilton Diamond, National Exec, Hertz Pres
Posts: 477
That's right. This offer was for a SECOND personal card that I was offered within a month of getting the first personal AA card. This offer wasn't for a business card.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: AL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL Sil, UA Sil, Hyatt Global, MR Amb, Hilton Diamond, National Exec, Hertz Pres
Posts: 477
get the usual 40k offers, hit min spend, and then let it sit in your drawer for a brief period (~3-4 months)...then call the retention dept to cancel. it is very common to get hit with a spend x and get x bonus miles each month retention bonus for 18 months (e.g. for me, its spend $750, get 750 extra...so 2x).
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AAdvantage Gold, AS Gold, SPG Gold, Emerald Club
Posts: 237
I agree with this. Unless you really plan to spend on this card, I don't think it is worth it.
Example - let's say you plan on spending $5k or 10k total on this card.
$5k * 1.2 = 6k miles + 25k bonus = 31k total
$10k *1.2 = 12k miles + 25k bonus = 37k total
Both of these are still under the current best offer of 40k sign up bonus.
Example - let's say you plan on spending $5k or 10k total on this card.
$5k * 1.2 = 6k miles + 25k bonus = 31k total
$10k *1.2 = 12k miles + 25k bonus = 37k total
Both of these are still under the current best offer of 40k sign up bonus.
1. The 1.2 miles per $ feature is good for 18 months. So, I could leverage that until it expires, then cancel the card when it reverts back to 1:1 earn rate.
2. It seems like 18 months is the churn period for AA personal cards, so this should work well from a timing POV too.
3. I use the AA dining program regularly, and get 5 miles per $. So, if I pay with the Amex, I get the dining bonus + 20%
4. This can all be augmented by my SPG Amex, which transfers 1:1 to AA.
So, this is the point where you all get to tell me I'm an idiot. Proceed.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 994
I see what you mean. In truth, I know that the other cards offer a better sign up bonus. At least at this point in time, here's my thought process/rationale:
1. The 1.2 miles per $ feature is good for 18 months. So, I could leverage that until it expires, then cancel the card when it reverts back to 1:1 earn rate.
2. It seems like 18 months is the churn period for AA personal cards, so this should work well from a timing POV too.
3. I use the AA dining program regularly, and get 5 miles per $. So, if I pay with the Amex, I get the dining bonus + 20%
4. This can all be augmented by my SPG Amex, which transfers 1:1 to AA.
So, this is the point where you all get to tell me I'm an idiot. Proceed.
1. The 1.2 miles per $ feature is good for 18 months. So, I could leverage that until it expires, then cancel the card when it reverts back to 1:1 earn rate.
2. It seems like 18 months is the churn period for AA personal cards, so this should work well from a timing POV too.
3. I use the AA dining program regularly, and get 5 miles per $. So, if I pay with the Amex, I get the dining bonus + 20%
4. This can all be augmented by my SPG Amex, which transfers 1:1 to AA.
So, this is the point where you all get to tell me I'm an idiot. Proceed.
2. I would not keep a citi aa card 18 months. Cancel it before 12 months end, and apply for business aa in between
3. But AA dining would work with any AA card, not just the one u selected
4. Keep SPG for hotel redemptions
5. It is likely citi will have a "new" AA product after the merge. In the mean times, I'd maximize miles earned in shortest time.
#13
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,090
I got a similar offer and plan on using it. My offer expired a while ago but I'm hoping that the usual Citi rule of "if the app loads, you can usually get the offer" will apply. I've kept an AA card since 2008, they are my preferred program. The no fee Amex will link to the 2008 card, and I'll enjoy another mileage boost.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 37
There are kind of two separate questions regarding the offer. 1) Is it worth getting the bonus? I would say yes, unless you think that taking them up on this offer will hinder your ability to get a 40K bonus on a different AA card. 2) Is it worth putting everyday spend on the card? I would say maybe, but I think you could link your SPG Amex to the AA Dining program too, so not much advantage there. If this card is similar to a "linked" Citi card I have, it does not count as a new account (shares the same credit line as your existing AA Visa or MC). I have no idea as to whether acquiring the Amex "partner card" will reset the "18 month" clock.